Time since death and decay rate constants of Norway spruce and European

Interactive comment on “Time since death and decay rate constants of Norway spruce and European larch deadwood in subalpine forests

Time since death and decay rate constants of Norway spruce and European larch deadwood

Introduction Conclusions References

Interactive comment on “Time since death and decay rate constants of Norway spruce and European larch deadwood in subalpine forests determined using dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating” by M. Petrillo et al

The decay rate of standing deadwood, i.e., of snags, is slower than that of downed deadwood in contact with the forest floor. We agree with Dr. Anger’s opinion that this may be an important reason why clear age differences in the decay classes 1 – 3 are missing. Some snags fall earlier others later. This overshadows a clear age trend in decay. If the rate at which snags of larch fall down on th...

Time since death and decay rate constants of Norway spruce and European larch deadwood in subalpine forests determined using dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating

Due to the large size (e.g. sections of tree trunks) and highly heterogeneous spatial distribution of deadwood, the timescales involved in the coarse woody debris (CWD) decay of Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Larix decidua Mill. in Alpine forests are largely unknown. We investigated the CWD decay dynamics in an Alpine valley in Italy using the chronosequence approach and the five-decay class syste...

Interactive comment on “Time since death and decay rate constants of Norway spruce and European larch deadwood in subalpine forests

their discussion, the authors refer to studies that showed that the decay rate of standing dead wood is slower than dead wood in contact with the forest floor. This contributes to explain the absence of clear differences in properties in classes 1-3. The same argument might potentially be used to explain the differences in decay rates of larch and spruce. Assessing the time elapsed standing of ...

Nutrient Dynamics and Decomposition rate of Norway Spruce Needles in Stråsan and Lajim stands

     Climate changes due to changes in a habitat leads to differences in the rate of decomposition and nutrient dynamics of leaflitters, which has many effects on the controlling factors of the decomposition process. In the present study, the rate of decomposition and nutrient dynamics of Norway spruce was evaluated for 363 days in the two forestation sites in the natural and foreign habitats, ...